The Diego Diaries: Morning (dd6 147)
-0-On the road to Earth 1
Linda Graham drove on the highway toward the boonies where Earth 1, Earth2 and the Consulate were located. She had an appointment with the doctor at Earth 1 who was a good friend. The traffic was getting lighter by the time she reached the junction that went to the Tri-Cities. Waiting at the light, she drove the big military truck onward over the eight lane highway that led outward. They had finally finished the connection at the end of the line making this road part of the TransWorld Highway. If she wanted to, she could drive all the way around Mars and never leave the beautiful eight lane highway that spanned it.
She clipped along, this doctor who had lived a nice life in a nice family in London. She had met and married Niall who was the love of her life, a smart good natured Scottish ginger. She had jumped at coming to Mars and helped the on-world local doctors with things that required a surgeon's skills. She was one of the leaders of the on-world human 'fun squad' and held a management job at The Resort as one of the owners. It had been easier than she thought, this urban lady, to fit in here and she did. She loved Mars and the life here. They had a son who was now one of 15 human infants at Sparkling Day in Terra. She had dropped Niall, Jr. off along the way, then booked it for Earth 1. When the new intake period was sorted out, there would be nearly 30 toddlers and babies in the system and her son's large array of both bot and human friends would expand. She waved to a human car filled with Earth2 inhabitants who were heading past her for somewhere in the city. Some of them were now able to get out and about, usually taking a load of those who couldn't drive themselves along for the ride.
It would take a while to reach Earth 1, then go inside for a confab with the residents. It would be a very cold spring day on Mars when she did. It was -85 degrees with a wind of 16 miles per hour.
-0-Ratchet
He stood in the office going over data concerning physicals for the Seekers in the air wing of the army. It was a large order since about 75% of the adult male Seekers here had elected to remain professional army. Lee-Lee walked in to deliver a bunch of stuff, then glanced at the data. "We have all the physicals done but for you and the general staff. As usual," she grinned. "Plug in and get yourself done. Remember? You gave me the right to badger you until you do when these come up."
Ratchet grinned at the feisty sweet little femme from Stanix who was his 'work wife'. He pulled a plug and set it into the computer behind him, then continued to work at the stack on his desk. The data flooded the screen, then settled. Pressing a button, he downloaded it into the disk in his hand, then gave it to her. "There you go, Bossy."
Lee-Lee grinned, then walked out. It was quiet a moment, then she walked back in to stare at the screen that was still up on the monitor. She looked at Ratchet, then shifted uneasily. "Ratchet? Did you look at the screen?"
Ratchet paused shuffling datapads, then glanced up at her. Then he looked at the screen. He stared at it, then her, then his servos filled with disks, the ceiling, the screen, Lee-Lee, the datapads on the desk …
-0-SECONDS LATER!
:Ironhide:
:What?:
:Where are you?:
:At my desk. In the armory, not The Fortress office upstairs. Why?:
:Did you take your tablets?:
The sound of Ratchet's voice had dropped into what Ironhide called 'The Danger Zone'. He froze in place, then searched his subspace. The packet wasn't there. He ransacked his desk, then sat back. :Uh, yeah …: he said weakly. :GOTTA GO! I'M NEEDED! SOMEWHERE!: Ironhide stood up quivering in place, then tip-toed to the door. Holi was working at something so he tip-toed out, ran to the stairs, then took them three at a time. He was gone in seconds.
-0-Lee-Lee
Ratchet snorted out with both fists clenched. Lee-Lee holding the datapads that Ratchet had stacked in her arms as he departed walked to her desk to set them down. :Blondi? Are you there?:
:Blondi here, Lee-Lee. What's up?:
:Uh … I think Ratchet's going to murderate Ironhide:
-0-Home
Ironhide entered the apartment at top speed, ran to the wash rack to find his tablets, then didn't. He was frantically looking when he heard the door open. Looking around for a hiding place, he barely slipped into Prowler's room before the door closed again. Or rather, slammed the frag shut. Moving into the farthest corner, he pressed against the wall and dialed himself down nearly into stasis lock so whoever it was wouldn't know he was there.
The stomping of peds indicated that Ratchet was home and he was in the wash rack rummaging as well. Then he rummaged through the berth room before stepping into the corridor. Ironhide actually felt his spark flutter as Ratchet stood outside the door. Then he walked onward, paused in the kitchen, rummaged, then walked to the door to leave. The door closed behind him. He would stand frozen in place for some time before he would flee the scene of the crime.
-0-On the Autobot City Professional Femme's Association private conversation channel
:Oh, my, Lee-Lee. This is amazing news: -Faun
:I hope I live through it, Faun: -Lee-Lee
:Hang on. My ada is on the line: -Blondi taking a chat
:I saw Ironhide sneak out of here. He was tip-toeing if you can believe it. He didn't think I saw him but I did: -Holi
:I'm back. What did I miss?: -Blondi
She would miss an inadvertent slip to her Stanixian mama.
-0-On the street seconds later
Ratchet stalked down the street with his big old frying pan in servo. He walked past The Paint Box, took a right on Sports Center Road to head for The Diner On The Corner. Ironhide who had made it for the street corner was trapped on Metroplex Highway #3. He had hurried out, saw Ratchet heading toward the Temple District with his pan, then beat it down Administrative Plaza Drive to Metro Highway #3 and some safety somewhere, anywhere.
Hopefully.
Maybe.
He ran down the street to peer through the windows of the diner to see what was happening, then spotted Ratchet heading to the door. Pulling back, he ran the other way heading toward somewhere, anywhere else.
Ratchet opened the door, then entered. Everyone froze, then turned to look at him. He was lit, had a huge frying pan and was giving the place the once over. He turned without a word, then walked back out to stalk toward the Temple District and Holy Ground.
-0-Grapevine
"Did you hear?"
"What?"
"I was told that Ratchet is sparked."
"NO! He has fifty kids already."
"It's true. Maybe."
-0-Earth 1
They smiled at each other, then Linda Graham left to drive back to The City and N.E.S.T. HQ where Niall was working on shift. It wouldn't do to tell anyone else before she told him that she was three and a half months pregnant. She drove out of the safe entrance to head back. It would take a bit of time to get there.
-0-Ops Center, getting ready for the staff meeting
Prowl stood at one of the several data interfaces on Teletraan waiting for the data to compile. He was preparing the agenda and downloading reports filed into it as well. He was nothing if not efficient, the uptight slagger. The monitor was playing overhead nearby, feeding The Hourly News into the vast room. Everyone was working well, all was going well, Optimus was sitting at the command table reading the newspapers when the Community Congratulations segment of the broadcast came on...
"Thank you, Jacx, for that report. Right now, Community Congratulations are being extended to our newest little colonists, Hooper of Sparkling Day School who was first in his class for paper mache," Lim-Lee said as a very cute and really good little dog craft was shown. "Also, congratulations are extended to Sphere and Molo of Helex who are the proud new genitors of a little mech this morning. The Well was busy over the weekend as we also welcome three new mechs in the families of Hargo and Tulis of Altihex, Fleece and Canon of Vargus IV and MP3, Dingo and Sketcher of Aldous 9. Included as well are congratulations to be extended to Master of the Army Ironhide of Praxus and CMO and Ambassador Ratchet of Iacon on the news of a new infant."
It took a moment to sink in before Prowl glanced up to the monitor. When he did, his helm exploded.
(insert mushroom cloud here)
KABOOM!
-0-Around the colony
Devcon stood at the corner waiting for the light to change along with Moda, his son, and Smokey. They saw Ironhide peer into the Diner window, then run. They saw Ratchet walk in, then out with a frying pan. They watched as the two went different directions.
"What's that about?" Moda asked.
"Ironhide fragged up, obviously," Dev said as Ratchet disappeared from view.
"Wow," Smokey said. "They play for keeps." He grinned. "I'm following Ironhide."
"I'm following Ratchet," Dev said. "Meet up at The Fortress." The two split, going their separate directions as Moda watched them.
"What about me?" Moda called out.
"COME WITH ME, ATAR!" Smokey said as he ran down the street, then cut across to the other side.
Moda shifted uneasily, then did the same, swiftly following his son, crossing in the middle of the street, rather than the crosswalk. It would be the first time he had ever deliberately broken a law in his life.
Accountants.
-0-In the lounge at the Dojo
Partition glanced at the mechs who were laughing loudly as Hercy sent onward the message he got from Smokescreen via Devcon. "What's so funny?" he asked.
"Ironhide. His aft is over," Hercy said with a chuckle. Everyone nodded. "The staff meeting is going to be one for the record books."
"Can I come?" Partition asked as he glanced around at the mellow crew sitting around him.
"It's required, isn't it?" Kup asked.
Aunt Lissie nodded. "Part of the training. Close combat with blunt instruments."
HUGE laughter.
-0-On the street
:Ironhide. Where are you?:
:Ironhide can't answer the phone right now. Please leave a message at the beep. BEEP!: Ironhide continued onward heading in a circular route to The Fortress, trying to stay away from Ratchet until he calmed down.
He wasn't calming down.
-0-On the road to Charon and duty
The twins stood in line to get on the shuttle going to Charon. They were on post there for shifts for the next few years as their main duty station because they were so good at what they did. Their type of warrior was placed there as first responders. It was a fragged back hand compliment.
Smokescreen who was kibitzing with a friend nearby grinned as he listened to Dev. When Dev logged off, he walked to the twins and extended his servo to Sunstreaker. "Sunny. Congrats."
Sunstreaker who took his servo frowned slightly. "About what?"
Smokescreen slapped Sunny on the shoulder then gripped Sideswipe's servo. "You too, Sideswipe. Congratulations. Both of you. I really mean it."
"What? What do you mean?" Sideswipe asked as everyone around them turned to stare with grins.
"You didn't hear?" Smokescreen asked with false surprise.
"No," Sunstreaker said as his frown deepened. "What didn't we hear?"
"I don't know if I can tell you. After all ..." Smokescreen began before Sunstreaker dumped him on the ground. He laughed loudly, then stood up. "On the other hand, you heard it from a friend. I heard that your genitors are sparked."
It was silent like a graveyard, then they both turned to the Master of the Muster as one. "We have a family emergency."
-0-RTR Tools
They sat around the store as Tie and Ravel stoked the furnaces. The others were reading or relaxing, waiting for classes. The monitor played The Hourly News nearby. " ...Canon of Vargus IV and MP3, Dingo and Sketcher of Aldous 9. Included as well are congratulations to be extended to Master of the Army Ironhide of Praxus and CMO and Ambassador Ratchet of Iacon on the news of a new infant."
They all froze, turned to the monitor, then their helms exploded.
POOF!
BOOM!
KERPOW!
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!
-0-At Club Hoyle
They sat around the table relaxing after a wild weekend at the Valles. They were sipping the Cybertronian equivalent of a bloody Mary when the news came clear over their slightly impaired wavelengths. Elita, the femmes, Maelstrom, Jetta, Mack and Not Magnus glanced at each other, then their helms exploded.
BOOM!
KABOOM!
POOF! POOF! POOF-POOFITY-POOF!
KERPLOW!
-0-At Ops Center
He finally made it back to the Ops Center and hurried in to pause anxiously by the table. He glanced wildly around, then froze at the expressions on the faces of Prowl, Prime and everyone else. "Hide me."
Prowl who was still ringing between the audials leaned toward Ironhide. "Fat chance," he said.
It was then that Ratchet came in. In one hand, he held a huge frying pan. In the other, he held a box of tablets to prevent sparking. The box had Ironhide's glyph written on it large.
-0-On their way to Ops Center
Ravel, Tie Down, Corr, Chan, Docker, a loudly laughing Appa Ratchet who were joined by Sunstreaker and Sideswipe trying to track Ratchet and Ironhide down marched toward The Fortress like an invading army. Clearly visible and catching up, all of the family femmes, a grinning Maelstrom, a smirking Jetta who was trading jokes with Elita followed by his fascinated brother, Mack made their way. Nearly caught up to them as they emerged from the metro station, the entire group of dojo lounge lizards along with Aunt Lissie, Willa and Partition followed. Blackjack, Raptor, Hard Drive and Delphi along with Turbine followed by Flint had just stepped through the bridge inside about the time all of them reached the courtyard outside. They would meet Alor jetting in from Las Vegas in the main bridge room. Cybertronian TV played on station on Earth as well as the outlying command centers, too. Hurrying as fast at they could, Scout and Trooper were booking it to The Fortress, following the others through the courtyard.
By the time that Ratchet had advanced on Ironhide who was keeping the table between them, everyone burst into the room and began to hurry to the (future) scene of the crime. Prime who was sitting at the table watching the show circling him, watched them come as well, then grinned. "Did anyone tell Magnus?" he asked to no one in particular.
Magnus who followed the mob because Arcee cherished family ties ALMOST as much as she enjoyed Magus taking one in the aft walked to the table to stare with astonishment. His bond's genitors were circling the table, one with blood lust and a huge frying pan and the other with fear on his face. He bellowed, "WHAT THE FRAG IS GOING ON!?"
Ratchet halted, then glared at everyone. He tossed the packet on the table. "You forgot your slagging tablets, Ironhide. You forgot them TWICE!"
Ironhide looked at the tablets, the howling mob and Prime's amused grin. "Oops," he said.
-0-Meanwhile just down the road at N.E.S.T. HQ
Linda Graham walked to her husband who was sitting at a computer station playing solitaire. He grinned, then pulled her onto his lap. "Hey there."
"Hey yourself," she replied. Then she whispered into his ear.
He listened, then looked at her with surprise. "Really?" he asked with a grin.
"Really. Mama Rosa is psychic," Linda Graham said as she grinned at her husband. She was three and a half months pregnant with a girl.
Indeed, Mama Rosa was psychic. edited 10-11-17
-0-TBC 10-04-17
This is a different thread than planned because a reader, kattenbeletteje gave me such a great note it exploded in my head. LOL! Thanks, everyone. I love ya all. :D:D:D